Dual Monitor woes in W7 Media Centre...

[Qdos]

I've got two nice little 1680 x 1050 20.1" Dell S-IPS monitors, which are de-facto 16:10 units, mounted on an Ergotron stand, with the intention of using one for television and the other for computing purp's.

My Graphics card is a capable Palit HD4850 Sonic with dual DVI outputs. It's also got an S-Video output which isn't in use.

What I would like to do is run WMC maximised on one monitor, with TV there as and when I wish to view anything, and naturally I wish to use this screen maximised (the only issue in WMC is that there is a limitation of either choosing 4:3 or 16:9 ratio output, and not 16:10).

However when I connect both monitors vai DVI output Windows7 locks my cursor in the maximised TV screen and I then cannot control the primary PC monitor whatsoever - which is somewhat of a complete farce, and is an extremely dissappointing result!

Accordingly I have to drag the WMC display to get the 16:9 output to 'almost' fill the 16:10 monitor, and then face the annoyance of the cursor drifting to that screen from my PC monitor from time to time (I can happily live with a band to allow for the 16:9 ~ 16:10 hardware differential... but not this ridiculous loss of cursor control!)

Question is this... why does my cursor focus get restricted to one screen if the Windows Media Centre is maximised? The whole point of having dual-monitors is being able to use both of them at once of course...

I've tried with the ATi driver alone, and with the Catalyst suite loaded, with no differences to the issue.

My monitors also have an S-Video input, but I've not got an S-Video cable to hand right now - however... if I were to use S-Video for one monitor would I avoid the 'locked in cursor' problem?

Any suggestions would be appreciated...

 

[dawesi]

I'm writing from my second screen right now... I'm still looking for a solution also... at the moment I just hit the windows key and drag the mouse from one screen to the other and keep working.

This way I can have the best of both worlds - full screen media center and a functional monitor to surf the web while I watch tv... or to show the weather forcast, etc...

Just found this post:
Dual monitors & Media Center - Vista Forums

seems like what we need

 

[dawesi]

you beauty... download the windows 7 version at above link!

 

[Qdos]

Just found this post:
Dual monitors & Media Center - Vista Forums

seems like what we need

Ideal, that was useful. Thanks. I'm still going to try an S-Video link though, as I never use the second monitor for anything but TV.

Bought an Emprex 3009URF III remote, which should allow me to control Media Centre fully through the S-Video link and ensure my cursor remains on the PC monitor

 

[VTMedicated]

Vista had the same issue...

I don't have dual monitors running on my windows 7 configuration, but I have this same issue with Vista Media Center running whenever I go fullscreen on the secondary. Try hitting the combo Alt-Tab, and see if that breaks you out.

 

[VTMedicated]

That's "Alt" and "Tab" keys (no minus sign)

 

[Qdos]

Hitting the Windows Key helps me move the trapped cursor, however Alt Tab doesn't. It is extremely annoying and represents a major flaw in Windows 7 for anyone using dual-monitors and exploiting Media Centre.

My screens are Dell FPW2005's and there have been no driver updates for them handed down through W7 update (not that I trust W7 hardware updates as it's already getting a reputation for doling out the wrong drivers for many devices as Microsoft have done a very poor job on driver recognition accuracy...)

I've also tried 'the Maxifier' and found the beta version for W7 isn't a lot of help; so the answer for me is going to lie in the S-Video approach to the multi-media monitor, linked with Media Centre control through the Emprex remote control.

At least that will leave my cursor, permanently, in the screen which I work in... and since that's all I need, it doesn't bother me - however... if I'd bought W7 with the expectation to multi-task on two screens using keyboard and the mouse and swap in Media Centre as desired I'd be gutted with Microsoft

 

[slowrey]

I am not sure why you just don't fit the screen without maximizing it. You would get the biggest image without worrying about the cursor.

 

[Qdos]

I am not sure why you just don't fit the screen without maximizing it. You would get the biggest image without worrying about the cursor.

It's already been carefully mentioned earlier, in particularly regards the fact that my screens are built in 16:10 format, and Media Centre can get no closer than a 16:9 output - and that it's therefore frustrating and annoying to have a band of desktop around, or over, or below, the media viewing window.

The alternative is to maximise the MC window; but as I've said, this causes the cursor to become invisible within the MC monitor - and locked within the same physical area.

I simply don't expect this type of dysfunctionality from a modern OS

 

[slowrey]

I am not sure why you just don't fit the screen without maximizing it. You would get the biggest image without worrying about the cursor.

It's already been carefully mentioned earlier, in particularly regards the fact that my screens are built in 16:10 format, and Media Centre can get no closer than a 16:9 output - and that it's therefore frustrating and annoying to have a band of desktop around, or over, or below, the media viewing window.

The alternative is to maximise the MC window; but as I've said, this causes the cursor to become invisible within the MC monitor - and locked within the same physical area.

I simply don't expect this type of dysfunctionality from a modern OS

Because Windows 7 doesn't fit your particular and specific need doesn't mean that it's a "dysfunctionality from a modern OS". Just because it doesn't "function" like you want it to doesn't mean it's dysfunctional. Well maybe just dysfunctional to you only

 

[torrentg]

Hitting the Windows Key helps me move the trapped cursor, however Alt Tab doesn't.

I got WMC on 2nd monitor. Alt+tab together allows me to use my other monitor like now while WMC is maximized playing a video.

I can't seem to figure where the design flaw is.

 

[Qdos]

I can't seem to figure where the design flaw is.

Perhaps it could be explained by the lack of support for the 16:10 format?

Maybe it's the fact the cursor becomes invisible and locked into the maximised Media Centre screen (when Windows 7 professes to support HD4850 dual output video cards...)

Both these issues are annoying, but the second one where the cursor becomes locked into a maximised screen and hidden is clearly a fairly significant dysfunctionality... just try to reach the tiny minimize buttons blindfold and you'd soon appreciate there is a lot of space to lose your cursor in on a 1680 x 1050 desktop!

I've ordered an S-Video cable, hopefully when DVI only runs one screen there will be no more cursor losses - and I will be able to control MC functions by remote control, however that means I lose the ability to have my desktop shown on both monitors (if I also leave a DVI cable connected then things like 'snap' won't work either...)

Microsoft need to sort out this issue 'à priorité...'

 

[torrentg]

I can't seem to figure where the design flaw is.

Perhaps it could be explained by the lack of support for the 16:10 format?

I'm using a 16:10 here. Seems supported to me rather well. I especially like how it can change zoom levels all with my remote, which is excellent for 16:9 content.


Maybe I'm misunderstanding this part (likely) - but the cursor is supposed to disappear. Others and I explained how to unlock it - alt and tab at same time. Move mouse anywhere, WMC still full screen.

 

[Urbwolf]

I have a dell 24" 16:10 aspect ratio and have no problems playing movie,tv the program itself in full screen

 

[Qdos]

Doh, I will just reiterate then...

1) Windows Media Centre *only* outputs 4:3 or 16:9 (there is *NO* setting to get 16:10 within it's parametres) yet my monitor is 16:10, therefore the only way I can get the screen filled completely with whatever content I choose to play or watch is to use the full screen function.

2) When using full screen the cursor become locked into the Media Centre display and vanishes. Alt + Tab do *NOT* alter this as has been said to have worked for others, I am forced to close the full screen by blindly moving the cursor around until I get the right control for this to light up, and then run the Media Centre unmaximised at 16:9 ratio and thus have to then put up with borders around the media window.

3) Each screen is presently connected to one of the dual DVi ports on a Palit Sonic Radeon HD4850.

This is why I've concluded the only way it'll work is to connect my second monitor to the S-Video port on my PC, reset the MC input and monitor input selectors to S-Video... and control it uniquely by using a remote control.

In conclusion this means the second monitor is only any good for TV/PVR as I'm going to be unable to extend my desktop onto it whenever I'm not using Media Centre.

Therefore I consider W7 to be dysfunctional. Dual-monitor support is a joke, because of the behaviour of the cursor in Media Centre, and because of the fact Media Centre does not allow unmaximised windows at 16:10, even when the correct graphics and display drivers are onboard.

I hope that explains the issues.

 

[torrentg]

My WMC goes perfect full screen in 16:10. When I play something that is 16:10 content, not one pixel is black.

Sounds like you are 1 in a large group that can't get this to function as you expect. So the world should bend over backwards for you and your conditions?

Less than likely. Sounds like Apple needs another customer.

Or, would you like to trade rigs so you can have WMC working like you want?

...I guess the thing that bothers me most with this is you assuming that you know better how it should be than the brilliant engineers that designed it.

Edit - I really just thought of something and wanted to mention it because I'm a very fair-minded person. Perhaps it is THE difference although I don't suspect so. I am running an updated version of WMC because I installed Windows6.1-KB974817-x86.msu.

Try to locate that and maybe your WMC will function similar to mine.

 

[Qdos]

My WMC goes perfect full screen in 16:10. When I play something that is 16:10 content, not one pixel is black. <snip>

You're reading between the lines, and not what I've specifically said. I've not mentioned black pixellation... I've not alleged full screen doesn't display right, I'm grumbling solely about the cursor, and the fact that MC does not offer any output ratio settings except 16:9 or 4:3.

Can you imagine how annoying it is to run a 16:9 display window in a 16:10 monitor? And solely because in full screen mode the cursor has a mind of its own?

If you don't think my situation matches yours then it doesn't make me wrong and you right - I mean you're coming over as arrogant and sarcastic quite clearly just because you don't agree... sheesh... I have nothing else to add, but your reply doesn't help and your condescending advices don't address the issues I've highlighted...

Pity you can't de-rep people for such unhelpfulness

 

[torrentg]

I don't really mean to come across as you say. You say you can't do something and I'm saying I can do the very same thing. I don't think I'm any special and I don't think there's anything wrong with your hardware, so I place an "argument" to try to get you to see. The "argument" is not a nasty one; more like a debate on it.

What it comes down to is that I really enjoy video/audio and want this to work for you as you want. It is possible. I miss stuff in peoples' writing all the time. So if you are at all like I can be at times, reread some of the thread and maybe you'll get it to work as you're wanting.

Because I can type here to you on one monitor while WMC is playing full screen on the other. And I can switch apps (FF + WMC) between monitors too and it does the same. In my specs, you can see I have both a 16:10 monitor and a 5:4 one.

Also, in WMC there are 4 levels/types of zoom that can be used.

 

[lloydcodrington]

I have a four monitor setup and have the same issue as many other WMC users, that being that in full scrren the cursor becomes looked inside the WMC window/monitor and also becomes invisible at the same time. Yes for me also hitting ALT + TAB is a solution. But the new Sky Player addon is able to cope flawlessly with WMC full screen why can not MS get their act together and resolve an issue I first notice when using Vista. There were forum entries about the issue from the begining of Vista's short lived life, so why have MS failed to achieve something Sky Player as an addon seem to be able to prove can be done.

 

[torrentg]

Hey.

My best guess is that most users actually want the cursor locked into WMC.

After all, the WMC is meant to be used mostly when not sitting at the PC, with a remote.

That's it's whole purpose to exist in the first place.